FIFA Council Approves 48-Team World Cup For 2026 Edition
FIFA's decision making body, the FIFA Council, also decided that the format would consist of 16 groups of three teams in the group stage.
"The FIFA Council unanimously decided on a 48-team World Cup as of 2026: 16 groups of 3 teams. Details to follow after the meeting," FIFA said on its Twitter feed.
FIFA president Gianni Infantino, who replaced the disgraced Sepp Blatter in February, had made World Cup expansion one of his promises during his successful electoral campaign.
Infantino had initially suggested a 40-team tournament but then added another eight to that total in October.
In making the decision, FIFA brushed aside concerns that the expansion would lower the overall standard of the tournament, and make it too long and unwieldy.
Critics, including the powerful European clubs as well as some leading coaches, have said that FIFA is tampering with a winning formula.
History of World Cup overhauls
| World Cup | Teams | Format |
|---|---|---|
| 1930 Uruguay | 13 | 1 group of 4 and 3 groups of 3, with only top team progressing to semi-finals |
| 1934 Italy | 16 | Straight knockout tournament |
| 1950 Brazil | 15 (13 took part) | 3 groups of 4 and 1 group of 3, with top side progressing to final group of four |
| 1954 Switzerland | 16 | 4 groups of 4, but only 2 games in each group, with top 2 sides through to quarter-finals |
| 1958 Sweden | 16 | 4 groups of 4, this time with 3 games. Top 2 sides through to quarter-finals |
| 1974 West Germany | 16 | 4 groups of 4 but now followed with 2 groups of 4, the 2 top sides competing the final |
| 1982 Spain | 24 | 6 groups of 4 followed by 4 groups of 3, the winner of each qualifying for the semi-finals |
| 1986 Mexico | 24 | 6 groups of 4, top 2 sides and 4 best 3rd-placed teams qualifying for round of 16 |
| 1998 France | 32 | 8 groups of 4, top 2 sides progressing to knockout rounds |
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